Guidelines & Registration

These Guidelines are implemented to ensure the uniformity and equality in participation for all students.

Students in Grades 7 – 9 will register in Division “A.”
Students in Grades 10 – 12 will register in Division “B.” If a school wishes, they may bump their ENTIRE Grade 9 up to Division B. This will require every grade 9 student to participate in ALL B Division events.

QUALIFICATIONS – Please read carefully

Christian Student Convention is for full-time students who attend your church-school or who are home schooled and attend your church faithfully.
Those who are 12 years old or in grade 7 on the Convention dates may attend. Students who are younger than 12 may not enter, even if they are in grade 7.
Graduating students who may have completed their academic work already in the current school year are eligible. Graduated students may not register for Convention, regardless of their age.
A student may enter a maximum of 9 participation events EXCLUDING those events finished before Convention (needlework, creative writing, photography, etc).
Each student must enter a minimum of 3 events. Please contact the office if you have a student who cannot enter a minimum of 3 events due to health concerns, etc.
A student may NOT enter more than 12 events total – including those events finished before Convention.
Mixing Divisions will be allowed for those schools with 25 students or less. Mixing an “A” Division student in a “B” Division group will require that student to be judged in, and to participate with, the “B” Division. Only “A” Division students can move divisions.
“B” Division students are never allowed to participate in an “A” Division entry. This includes platform and sports. “A” Division students may be mixed with a “B” Division group / team but never the other way around.

ELIMINATION EVENTS

Elimination events are any events where a participant or team plays an opponent and the winning team plays another winning team until first, second, and third place are decided.

Spelling is the exception where students receive a ribbon based on their score. Those scoring below 85 will not receive a ribbon but will receive the score they earned. Those below a 78 will automatically receive a participation mark of 77.

APPEARANCE

The manner of appearance and dress at Christian Student Convention participants should reflect an image of Christian modesty, refinement, and self-discipline. Students and sponsors are expected to support the appearance requirements for Convention.

The dress code, as stated in the guidelines, must be observed by everyone officially associated with Student Convention. Participants, Sponsors, Coaches, and Judges are to dress in a conservative, appropriate, modest attire. It is the responsibility of the sponsor to ensure that students meet the dress and appearance requirements while at Convention. This also includes all sports uniforms.

School uniforms may be worn as long as they meet Convention Guidelines.

MALES – Platform Events, Meals & Rally

Hair off the collar and above the ears – no “mod” or spiked hair
Button-up shirts and long trousers (no jeans)
Ties are required at meals and the Rally. When not wearing a tie, only the top button is to be undone.
For the Rally: same as it was when participating in the event
Tight, tapered pants are not allowed; belts should be worn with pants that have a belt loop
No chains or jewelry is allowed; body piercings are not allowed
Dress shoes with socks are to be worn on the platform, at meals, and at the Rally

MALES – Sports

Each team member is required to wear a numbered jersey
Blue jeans may be worn – no ripped jeans are allowed
Sweat pants and shorts are not allowed
Athletic wear may be worn to meals if the student is scheduled to compete after the meal

FEMALES – Platform Events, Meals & Rally

Dresses or skirts should be to the bottom of the knee, standing or sitting
Slits in dresses or skirts should not be higher than the bottom of the knee
Dresses, blouses, or sweaters should come to the neckline and be loose and modest. No see-through clothing will be allowed.
Clinging or tight clothing will not be allowed
Midriffs must be covered at all times, in all positions
Dress shoes should be worn for platform events, meals, and the Rally
Jewelry and makeup should be minimal
For the Rally: same as it was when participating in the event

FEMALES – Sports

Each team member is required to wear a numbered jersey
Loose-fitting culottes (to the bottom of the knee) and tops should be worn for competition
Running shorts that are very loose and come to the bottom of the knee will be allowed

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCT

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” must be the guiding principle of all interactions between the young men and the young ladies attending Convention. Couples should not be isolated at any time. They should respect each other when sitting together. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to ensure that all student comply with Convention Guidelines.

RALLY ATTENDANCE

Sponsors and students must attend the Rally
All students should sit with their sponsors during the Rally
Sponsors are expected to prohibit students from booing or behaviour that would not be conduct becoming to Christ

SPONSORS

Sponsors are the key to good attitudes among the students and a cooperative spirit at the Convention.

Each student must be directly responsible at all times to a specific sponsor. There should be 1 male sponsor for every 1-8 boys and 1 female sponsor for every 1-8 girls.

Sponsors must be at least 21 years of age at the time of Convention.

Parents may serve as sponsors for their children. Homeschoolers should never be left at Convention without a sponsor.

GUESTS & SPECTATORS

Guests are encouraged to attend Convention and encourage the students as they perform.

Children under 6 years of age may not attend any platform events. All children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children without a parent present will not be allowed to attend Convention, either in Platform Events or Sports Events.

Guests may purchase meal tickets during Convention.

Guests and spectators are encouraged to come to the Rally on Friday night.

MEDICAL

Each school must have signed waivers from each of their students when participating in Convention. Sponsors should be prepared to deal with minor problems, such as headaches and small scratches.

Each student is under the direct medical care of their sponsors. If any participants have food allergies, please let us know before coming to Convention.

JUDGES

We do our very best to have Judges with a heart to serve and encourage. It is never the desire of any Judge to hurt or belittle a student when participating at Convention.

That being said, Judge’s decisions should be respected. They are instructed to give encouraging comments that each student can grow from. Judge’s forms will be returned to the sponsor in charge of registration. If individual teachers wish to receive the forms for their department, they should speak to the registering sponsor.

PLATFORM GUIDELINES

APPEARANCE

Dignity and grooming should be apparent. Clothing should be clean and neatly pressed. Uniformity of dress is recommended for groups but not required. School uniforms are usually proper.

BOYS: dress pants and button shirt (tucked in) and tie should be worn. Suit jackets are encouraged but not required. No white socks, blue jeans or running shoes are allowed.
GIRLS: appropriate attire would be a nice dress of the proper length (below the knee) or blouse / sweater and skirt; dress shoes are required. Running shoes may not be worn.

POISE / SELF-CONFIDENCE

Approach - the approach is one of the most important elements of speaking, public recitation or singing. The participant should walk, confidently and briskly, to the podium or the front of the audience. They should establish good eye contact, pause for 5-10 seconds, and begin their presentation.
Eye Contact – the student should establish a rapport with the audience with good eye contact. They should avoid looking down often at their notes or Bible, at the ceiling, or out of the window. Eyes should move up and down, back and forth over the entire audience, slowly and naturally.
Posture / Gestures – the rule for posture is DO NOT SLOUCH! The student should stand straight, but not lock-kneed. Gestures should be free and flow naturally from enthusiasm. Natural movements are more effective then forced gestures.
Delivery – the speaker should project his voice, using the diaphragm. Recreate the mood, experience, emotion and feelings of the author. Employ voice variations and tempo.
Preparation – preparation and study are prerequisites for all speaking, reading or musical performances. Research, organization, outline, and familiarity are the elements of preparation. Students will receive poor marks from the Judges if they are not properly prepared.

PLATFORM PRESENTATION

Introduction of entry before the Judges: students in platform events are to give their first and last name along with the title of their presentation (“My name is John Doe and I will be reciting…”)

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

The following Registration forms should be filled out online before coming to Convention:
- School Registration Form
- Student Registration Form (for each individual student)
- Sponsor Registration Form (for each individual sponsor)
- Student Waiver and Consent Form (for each student attending Convention)
Each student should have 2 copies of the Judge’s Form for each event entered and should bring those with them to Convention.
The following entries must be submitted two weeks before Convention:
- Essay Writing
- Poetry Writing
- Short Story Writing
- Music Arranging
- Music Composition
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Website Design
  
  Those entries submitted after the cut-off date will not be considered.